Heater fan



Sept. 4, 1951 o. A. SUTTON 2,567,087

HEATER FAN Filed Nov. 8, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Oztzls A. Suite/7 0. A. SUTTON HEATER FAN Sept. 4, 1951 Filed Nov. 8, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 4, 1951 HEATER FAN Ottis A. Sutton, Wichita, Kans., assignor to The 0. A. Sutton Corporation, Inc., Wichita, Kans., a corporation of Kansas Application November 8, 1949, Serial No. 126,216

7 Claims. (Cl. 21939) My present invention relates to a heater fan of the portable type. A principal object of the present invention is to provide a sturdy construction of the character described which is of small size and light weight yet moves a large volume of comfortably heated air.

One of the objects of the present invention is to permit the use of resistance heating elements of relatively large capacity in a most eflicient manner without overheating the portions of the casing which are likely to come in contact with persons or objects, thereby reducing the danger of injury and the hazard of fire normally connected with such devices.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a heater fan which includes a reflector ring extending circumferentially about the air propeller and the operating motor therefor and in spaced relation to an annular casing in which the propeller is mounted, the arrangement being such that a constant stream of cooling air is forced between the adacent surfaces of the reflector ring and casing to cool the same.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a casing for a heater fan in which resistance heating means are arranged in such manner that all of the heat therefrom is radiated forwardly from the casing or is absorbed in portions of the casing across which air is induced to flow by the fan blades.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a heater fan having a lamp associated therewith in such manner that the lamp is luminescent when the heat is desired and non-luminescent when it is desired to operate the fan for the circulation of unheated air, the arrangement being such that when the heating element is energized a cheerful glow of reflected light is projected forwardly through the open end of the casing through which the heated air is propelled, thereby psychologically affecting the comfort of the users and also serving as a warning or reminder that the heater is in operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means whereby the motor of a heater. fan assembly is most efficiently protected from the heating means.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention may be more readi ly ascertained by inspection of the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.-

In the drawings, Fig. l is a front elevation of a heater fan constructed in accordance with the present invention, with portions broken away better to illustrate the construction thereof;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a view of a portion of the apparatus taken from the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a View in elevation of the reflector ring forming a portion of the apparatus, the view being upon a reduced scale;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5; and

Fig. '7 is a schematic diagram showing a preferred form of wiring circuit for the apparatus.

The heater fan of the present invention preferably comprises a cupped sheet metal base In having its open end downward and carrying a plurality of resilient feet ll whereby the base is held in spaced relation to a supporting surface. The base includes an internal partition 12 adapted to shield portions of the wiring such as the switch box [3 from which a switch operating lever 14 projects through an opening in the base. The upper surface of the base is preformed to provide a seat for a portion of a casing l5 which is preferably affixed to the base by spot welding. The base is provided with an opening, in which is seated an insulator grommet 16, in alignment with an opening I! in the casing so that wires (not shown) may extend from the switch box into the interior of the casing. An annular reflector ring [8 is mounted concentrically within the casing [5 so as to provide therebetween an annular space l9 through which air may be induced to flow as will presently appear. The reflector ring is provided with an opening in which is mounted an insulator grommet 20 in proximity to the grommet [6 so that the Wires may extend into the interior of the reflector ring.

The casing l5 includes an annular ring portion whose end edges at 25 and 26 are lesser in diameter than the intermediate portions thereof, and the reflector ring I8 is of similar construction but is of lesser concavity so that the space between the two annular members is of substantial width even though the forward edge 21 of the reflector ring is almost in horizontal alignment with the forward edge 25 of the casing and the rear edge 28 of the reflector ring is almost in horizontal alignment with the rear edge 28 of the ring portion. The edges 25 and 21 are horizontally spaced to provide an annular slot 30 at the front end of the assembly and the edges 25 and 28 are horizontally spaced to provide an annular slot 3| at the rear end of the assembly. A motor 32 is mounted centrally within the reflector ring with its shaft 33 lying substantially along the axis thereof, and an air propeller is mounted on the forwardly projecting end of the shaft, the propeller preferably including a plurality of radially extending blades 34 whose tips extend to within a short distance of the slot 39. The motor is rotated in such direction, and fan blades are so arranged, as to draw air through the casing from the rear side above the switch l4 and project it forwardly through the front end of the casing. With a radial blade fan of this character there is some centrifugal effect so that a positive pressure is created at the front end;

of space l9 near the slot 30. The drawing o f air from the rear by the action of the blades causes the creation of negative pressure in the space l9 near slot 3|, the combined effect of the positive pressure at the forward end and the negative pressure at the rear end causingan induced draft through the annular space l9 in the reverse direction to the general direction of movement of the air through the casing. Both surfaces of the reflector ring |8--and the inner. surface of the casing I are cooled by the air streams flowing thereover so that the casing remains cool at all times.

The preferred construction is such that means are provided to confine most of the heat generated by the resistance heating element to the space within the reflector ring l8. The resistance heating element preferably comprises an elongated coil of resistance wire having one end connected to a terminal 35 mounted between the reflector ring and the motor 32, beneath the motor, as will presently'appear, then extending circumferentially about the motor to an insulator pulley 36 mounted midway between the motor and the reflector ring at the upper side of the motor, then downwardly and in spaced relation to the first described portion and on around the interior of the construction to a second pulley 37 at the top, and then back about the motor to a second terminal 38 at the bottom. Intermediate portions of the resistance wire are held in proper position by insulator brackets 40 including hook portions 4| in which the resistance element 39 is seated, and the lower extremity of the outer ring of resistance wire is supported on a lower insulator pulley 42. There are thus provided two rings of resistance element portions surrounding the motor, with the ringslying in a vertical plane somewhat forwardly of' the central plane of the construction. As seen most clearly in Fig. 2, the reflector ring comprises a central, substantially cylindrical portion and annular edge portions which are inwardly convex. 'The reflector ring thereby reflects a great deal of heat forwardly or rearwardly as indicated by the dash lines in Fig. 2.

That portion of the reflected heat which would be projected through the rear end of the casing is captured and converted into heat of convection by means comprising a perforated rear wall. Preferably the rear wall includes a flange extension of the ring portion of the outer casing l5, the inner edge of the annular extension being indicated at 44. The circular central opening beyond the edge 44 is bridged by a dished plate 45 retained in position by a plurality of screws 46. The edge 26 of the ring portion of easing I5 is not continuous but is defined by a plurality of large, circumferentially extending openings 47 separated by web portions. Preferably the edges of the openings 41 are curved inwardly so that a nozzle effect is created to assist the induction of draft through the space I9. Also, the forward openings 50, the openings being provided by stamping louvre tongues 5| inwardly from the "plate.- The louvre tongues are preferably directed upwardly so as to direct the air in a slightly up ward direction across the motor 32. The flange of the casing in which the openings 41 and 48 are located absorbs some of the reflected radiant heat from'the reflector ring [8 and the direct radiant heat from the resistance element, which absorbed heat is transmitted to the air rushing into the casing. Some of the heat is reflected from the inner surface thereof toward the front of the casing or otherelements where it will be transmitted to the air. The louvre tongues 5| also capture reflected heat and warm the air passing through the openings 50. The openings 41 and 48 preferably lie in longitudinal alignment with the rings of the resistance element so that the greater part of air induced to flow through the casing flows about the convolutions of the resistance element to be warmed by direct contact.

In order to protect the motor 32 from overheating, a cup-shaped shield 55 surrounds the motor in spaced relation thereto on all sides except the rear sidefacing the plate 45, and the rear edge of the shield is spaced from the plate. The front of the shield is provided with a plurality of openings 56 having louvre tongues 51 adjacent thereto and extending downwardly into the shield. Preferably the greater number of openings 56 are in the upper portion of the shield, whereby the air naturally tends to flow through the casing.

In order to support the various elements in the desired relation to each other, they are interconnected through members of relatively small size and held in spaced relation to each other by said members whereby the travel of heat by conduction from the resistance element outward to the casing I5 and inward to the motor 32 is reduced to a minimum. The members include three radially spaced, longitudinally extending bars 60 spanning the annular space l9 and having their ends connected to the casing [5 by screws 6| and 62 and their intermediate portions connected to the reflector ring [8 by bolts 63 and nuts 64. The bolts;63 also fasten in place the outer ends of three of a plurality of radially extending mounting members which support the shield 55. The mounting members include a substantially V- shaped bracket at each side of the casing, the bracket having radial arms 66 and 61, with arms 66 terminating short of the reflector means and the arms 61 extending outward to be engaged by the bolts 63 holding the longitudinally extending bars 60 in position. Thus the arms 61 and the edg 25 is rounded and directed rearwardly so as to capture some of the forwardly moving ,a ir

upper member 65 provide radially extending supports located substantially at degrees to each other for maintaining the shield 55 in proper position. A lower member 68 has its inner end fastened to the lower surface of theshield 55 and terminates inwardly from the reflector ring. The member 65 supports a cross-bar 69, the ends of which are reduced and bent forwardly to support the insulator pulleys 36 and 31. Each of the arms 66 and 6'! supports one of the insulator brackets 40, the bracket being connected thereto by means bound together by an ornamental band 81.

of a rivet 19. The lower member 88 is provided with a central pin 1| upon which is supported a laterally extending insulator bar I2 upon which the terminals 35 and 39 are mounted. The lower end of the member 69 is provided with a reduced tongue portion 13 which extends forwardly through the central opening of the insulator pulley 42 and then downwardly to hold the pulley in position.

A pair of mounting bolts 14 extend through the front wall of the shield 55 into a stationary portion of motor 32, intermediate portions of the bolts 14 being surrounded by spacers 15, whereby the motor is held in proper position.- The shaft 33 upon which the propeller is mounted extends forwardly through an opening in the shield 55.

In order that a warm, cheerful glow may be created when the heater is turned on, and also to call attention to the fact that the heater is turned on, an incandescent lamp bulb 99 is mounted in the space between the open end of the shield 55 and the rear wall plate 45. The bulb is conventionally inserted into a socket 8| which is mounted on a bracket 82 welded to the upper edge of the shield and depending therefrom. The filament of the bulb 89 is arranged along the vertical center line of the fan and is preferably slightly below the axis thereof, being in such relation to the rear convex portion of the reflector ring that the light therefrom is refiected forwardly through the casing. The reflector ring, therefore, reflects not only the heat and light rays from the resistance element, but the light from the bulb 89 as well, with the greatest portion of the light being transmitted from the lower, rear portion of the reflector ring which is most easily seen by persons standing in front of the fan. Preferably the bulb 89 is designed to create red light so as to produce the psychological effects of cheerfulness and warmth and to warn of danger.

Figs. 2, 5, and 6 illustrate a detail of construction whereby manufacturing economies are achieved. It will be seen that the casing I comprises two portions, a front portion 85 and a rear portion 86 formed so as to have complementary edges along a greater diameter. These separate portions each may be stamped out of sheet metal in a reciprocating die press and are not joined together until the final assembly takes place. Therefore, the production of the outer casing is simplified and the assembly therewith of the reflector ring, which is of larger diameter than the smaller diameter portions of the casing, is permitted. The separable parts of the casing are positioned about the inner assembly and then Similarly, the reflector ring is made from a plurality of separate, identical stampings 99 each comprising one-third of the entire ring. In the operation of forming the stampings 99, one end of each is offset to underlie an end of the adjoining part, and each stamping is provided with a small opening 9I at each end, one of which may be aligned with an opening 9| in the adjoining part in an assembly fixture so as to create a ring of the proper diameter. The two openings may be slipped over a locating pin and the flange portions spot welded together as indicated at 92 so as to complete the reflector ring. A handle 93 formed of a sheet metal stamping is suitably secured to the outer surface of the portion 86 of the casing prior to final assembly thereof, the handle projecting rearwardly in spaced relation to the casing so that it will remain as cool as possible.

- The front end of thecasingis provided with a grille for preventing bodily contact with the fan blades or the heating element and to prevent curtains and the like from being whipped into the casing. The grille preferably comprises a plurality of radially extending rods 94 having their inner ends aflixed to a central ornamental disk and their outer ends projected through perforated tabs 96 formed on the edge 25 of the casing I5. These tabs may be bent inwardly to receive the ends of the rods 94 and the rods are preferably of suificient resiliency to be bent outwardly so as to permit assembly of the grille with the casing. A plurality of guard rings 91 extend concentrically about the disc 95 and are welded to the rods 94.

In Fig. '7 a preferred form of wiring diagram is illustrated. In this diagram one main line I99 is connected to one terminal of the switch box I3 and the other main line I9I is connected to the other terminal, the lines preferably extending to a plug-in connector (not shown) through an insulator grommet 99 in the base I9. The switch box contains a plurality of switch blades which normally remain in neutral position. When the switch bar I4 is thrown in one direction a switch blade I92 makes contact with the terminal of a wire I93 which leads to one end of the resistance element 39. A wire H9 is tapped into the resistance element at the desired point to throw in a desired resistance in series with the motor 32, the motor being of the type requiring a certain resistance in order to operate. The opposite side of the motor is connected by wire I94 to the terminal of main line I9I so that the motor may be operated independently to cause the fan to operate as a circulating unit only. When the switch bar I4 is thrown in the opposite direction from neutral, a pair of blades I95 and I96 are thrown into closed position. Switch bar I95 makes contact with the terminal of a wire I9'I branching from wire I93 whereby the motor 32 is energized as previously described. Switch bar I96 contacts a terminal of a wire I98 leading to the opposite end of the resistance element 39 whereby main lines I99 and IM are connected to each other through the entire resistance element which is thereby caused to create heat. The bulb 89 is connected in parallel across the terminals of the resistance element 39.

Having illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be appreciated that modifications in detail and arrangement thereof may be achieved by those skilled in the art. I claim as my invention all such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A heater fan comprising an annular casing, the end edges of said casing being of lesser diameter than its intermediate portions, an annular reflector ring positioned concentrically within said casing and spaced therefrom to define therewith an annular space, the end edges of said ring being spaced inwardly from and positioned closely adjacent the end edges of said casing whereby one pair of adjacent end edges defines a front, annular slot opening into said space, and the other pair of adjacent edges defines a rear, annular slot opening into said space, a motor mounted centrally within said casing and including a shaft lying along the axis of the easing, an air propeller mounted'on said shaft and arranged to draw air from the rear toward the, front of said casing and propel the air forwardly from the casing, said propeller being at the front of said casing and including a plurality of radially extending blades having their tips extending to within a short distance radially inward. from said front slot, an elongated resistance heating means encircling said motor in spaced relation thereto and to said reflector ring and in the path of air drawn through said casing by said propeller, and a perforated rear wall extending across the. rear end of said annular casing, the perforations of said rear wall including a plurality of openings closely adjacent said rear slot, the arrangement thereby providing for the creation of positive, pressure in said annular space adjacent said front slot and negative pressure in said annular space adjacent said rear slot whereby air is induced to flow rearwardly through said annular space when said propeller is in operation.

2. The. construction set forth in. claim 1 in which said reflector ring comprises a pair of inwardly convex, annular surfaces adjacent its ends and so arranged with respect. to. said heating means as to direct a substantial portion of the reflected heat toward the ends of said casing and away from said motor.

3. The construction set forth in claim 1;v in combination with a cup-shaped shield enclosing said motor in spaced relation thereto on all sides except toward said rear wall, and in which said rear wall is provided with a plurality of directional louvres adjacent some of the openings in said rear wall arranged to direct air upwardly into the open end of said shield, and the forwardly facing wall of said shield is provided with a plurality of openings therethrough.

4. The construction set forth in claim 1; in combination with an incandescent, lamp mounted between said motor and said rear wall in position to illuminate the rear portion of said reflector ring, said rear portion of the reflector ring comprising an annular, inwardly convex surface so arranged with respect to said bulb as to reflect light therefrom throughout the front end of said casing.

5. The construction set forth in claim 1; in combination with a shield enclosing said motor on all sides except toward said rear wall, a plurality of narrow bars extending longitudinally through said annular space, means connecting the ends of each of said bars to the edge portions of said annular casing, means connecting an intermediate part of each of said bars to a central portion orsaid reflector ring, said bars being circumferentially spaced whereby to provide means concentrically to locate said reflector ring within said casing, a. plurality of radially extending members having their outer ends connected to said reflector ring and their inner ends. connected to said shield whereby to hold said shield in spaced relation within said reflector ring, means connecting said motor to said shield whereby to locate and support said motor, and a plurality of insulators mounted on said radial arms and supporting said resistance element.

6. The construction set forth in claim 1 in which said rear wall comprises an outer, annular portion formed as an integral extension of the rear edge of said annular casing and a central plate removably attached to the inner edge of said portion, and the perforations through said rear wall comprise a plurality of large perforations in said portion and in said plate, the edges of the perforations in said portion being curved inwardly, and said plate having louvres thereon adjacent each perforation there-through.

7. A heater fan comprising an annular casing, a motor mounted within said casing and including a. concentrically located shaft adjacent the front end, of said casing, a radial-bladed propeller mounted on and connected to said shaft, radiantheater coil means surrounding said motor, a lamp bulb mounted behind said motor, and an annular reflector ring concentrically mounted between and spaced from said casing and said heater coil means, said reflector ring having both of its end. edges closely adjacent the end edges of said casing and spaced therefrom throughout to permit cooling air to flow between said casing and said reflector ring, said reflector ring being inwardly concave in cross-section but comprising annular end portions which are inwardly convex in crosssection.

OTTIS A. SUTTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,967,757 Losee July-24, 1934 2,050,333 Jordan Aug. 11, 1936 2,274,469 Booth Feb. 24, 1942 2,372,832 Jepson l- Apr. 3, 1945 2,408,286 Aufiero Sept. 24, 1946 2,492,248 Weingardt Dec. 27, 1949 

